Archived News Script
IRTS Radio News Bulletin Sunday 2nd June 2019
QSO Party next Saturday
'QSO Party' contests, which are designed to encourage newcomers to experience contesting in a relatively relaxed environment, have been popular in North America for many years. The short IRTS Counties Contests have often been described as QSO Parties. RSGB is running a 'QSO Party' next Saturday, 8th June, from 1000 to 1200 UTC. It's on 40 metres, SSB only, the contest exchange is the default 'placeholder' report of 59 followed by your name or nickname. There is a separate section for overseas stations, the contest organisers are hoping that EI stations will participate. See www.rsgb.org/qsoparties for full details.
South Dublin Radio Club
Next week Mark EI6HPB will present a talk to South Dublin Radio Club regarding the objectives and functions of the International Emergency Communication Registry of Operators (IECRO) during large-scale global disasters. A number of topics will be discussed including the international structure of the IECRO network, lessons learnt during past events where IECRO members have assisted and a progress update on the recently licensed midlands automated stations.
SEARG
Dates for your diary. The South Eastern Amateur Radio Group EI2WRC will for the 12th consecutive year take part in the Geoparks Communications weekend which takes place over the weekend of the 8th & 9th of June to coincide with European Geoparks week. The club will be using the special callsign EI2GEO for the weekend. Access to the site will be available on the morning of the 8th with ample room for parking and camping overnight. This year the group are planning to have as many different stations active on as many different bands and modes as possible. Tea/Coffee will be available all weekend. SEARG would like to thank John Galloway, Manager of the Copper Coast Geopark Centre, Bunmahon and all his staff for making this excellent site available as always for them to use for the Geopark Weekend.
Also a reminder that the South Eastern Amateur Radio Group EI2WRC will be hosting the 88th Annual Irish Radio Transmitters Society AGM over the weekend of the 18th & 19th April 2020, in The Woodford Dolmen Hotel, Kilkenny Road, Carlow.
This will be their 2nd time to host the event and they look forward to welcoming everyone from Ireland and beyond to Carlow. The hotel reception may be contacted on 059 9142002. Please use the code “IRTS 2020” to obtain special room prices for the event. More information on the weekend will be released once confirmed.
For anyone that wishes to find out more about the South Eastern Amateur Radio Group and their activities you can drop them an email to “southeasternarg /at/ gmail /dot/ com” or please feel free to come along to any of their meetings. You can check out their website www.searg.ie and you can also join them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter.
Alcock & Brown Centenary
Coming soon to a radio near you: Members & friends of The Galway Radio Experimenters Club (GREC) will for the month of June be operating as EI100ABC to commemorate the 1st transatlantic non-stop crossing by the famous aviators Alcock & Brown who in June 1919 made the trip from Newfoundland, Canada to Clifden, Ireland in a Vickers Vimy plane. A five day festival will also be held in Clifden beginning June 12th 2019 showcasing the historic event, see https://alcockandbrown100.com/ or https://www.qrz.com/db/ei100abc for more details.
Activity Needed, 13 June 2019 - 50 MHz
Important reminder: This year the ITU World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-19) starts on 28 October and will last four weeks. An important agenda item for the amateur service is for the WRC to consider the consolidation and extension of 50 MHz in Region 1 (Europe, Africa, Middle East and Asiatic Russia). One of the national telecoms administrations, which are actively supporting the proposal, is the Czech Republic; unfortunately some other administrations are actively opposed.
In order to gather solid evidence of the high level of amateur activity on the band, and at the same time to demonstrate that amateurs can co-exist with other band users including the military, IARU is supporting a monitoring trial in the middle of June. The event is being run by the Czech national radio society, in conjunction with their regulator. It is part activity period and part contest. Government and professional users will be monitoring (and some will be transmitting as well) so it is important that we make a good showing. Remember, by the way, that if you do hear any non-amateur stations you must make sure you do NOT cause them any interference. Full details can be found on the iaru-r1.org website.
Date and times are Thursday 13 June 2019 07:30 - 09:00 UTC and 11:00 - 12:30 UTC
There needs to be as much activity as possible on the band during these two periods, preferably sticking to the Czech power limit of 25 W ERP. It doesn't matter whether the band is open or not, just get on the air using SSB, CW, Digital, or all three. It is not essential that you should submit an entry for the contest although that would be appreciated, but IARU would definitely like as many logs as possible (contest or non-contest) to be sent in by 15 June, to provide solid evidence that can be used in pre-WRC planning.
DX News
Members of the RT9K team will active as XV9DF from Vietnam from 2nd - 15th June. They will be located on Hon Tre Island (IOTA AS-157) and will be QRV on 40 – 10m on CW, SSB and FT8. QSL via M0OXO.
Four Russian Robinson Club members plan to operate from Paramushir Island (IOTA AS-204) until 7th June. Callsign is R26RRC. Activity will be on 40, 30, 20 and 17m. Location is in eastern Asiatic Russia in Zone 19. QSL via Club Log OQRS.
S9A will be the callsign of the LazyDXers who will be on Sao Tome Island from 6th – 18th June. They will be on all bands 160 – 10m on CW, SSB, RTTY and FT8. QSL manager is EB7DX.
The 2019 Uruguay DX Group DXpedition will sign 5W0H from Upolu Island in Samoa. They will be there until 10th June on 80 – 6m. QSL manager is EB7DX.
Items for inclusion in next week’s Radio News can be submitted via e-mail to “newsteam /at/ irts / dot / ie” for automatic forwarding to both the radio and printed news services. Urgent news items for the radio news may be telephoned to the radio news editor, Mark EI6HPB on 086 355 2370.
Please note that items for the radio news should reach the editor no later than midday on Thursday in order to be guaranteed inclusion in the following Sunday’s bulletin.
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